Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to China

Barbara Janet Woodward has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Ms Barbara Janet Woodward CMG OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in succession to Sir Sebastian Wood KCMG. Ms Woodward will take up her appointment during early 2015.

Ms Woodward joined the FCO in 1994. She has worked in China, Russia, the EU and at the UN. Ms Woodward was most recently a member of the Board of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Director General Economic & Consular Affairs.

On her appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ms Woodward said:

I am honoured and delighted to succeed Sir Sebastian Wood and to be returning to China. I look forward to supporting further dynamic development in our bilateral trade and investment and to accelerating and deepening our cooperation across China, building up the indispensable partnership that the Prime Minister and Premier Li Keqiang reaffirmed earlier this year as the cornerstone for our security and prosperity in the 21st century.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name

Ms Barbara Janet Woodward

2011 – present

FCO, Director General (Economic & Consular)

2009 – 2011

UK Border Agency, International Director

2003 – 2009

Beijing, Political Counsellor, later Minister and Deputy Head of Mission